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SPECIAL EDUCATION OR LANGUAGE EVALUATING THE ELL STUDENT.
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Transcript of SPECIAL EDUCATION OR LANGUAGE EVALUATING THE ELL STUDENT.
Did You Know???
ELL students are often either over or under represented in special education programs
WHY?????
The Problem with LD an ELL
May make inappropriate referrals because of variations in the language proficiency
Learning problems may go unnoticed because struggles are attributed to language acquisition challenges.
Someone has Concerns
Can’t I just do a referral?
How about I just ignore it, maybe it will go away?
“Ok, I give up what should I do?”
First: Define Specific Concerns
Why this student?
Who has noticed the problem ?
What do others see?
Define it in skill based terms?
Understand the Levels of Language
Be aware of variations in language proficiency
Is this a learning problem or a language issue?
If he can carry on a conversation with you, does that mean he is proficient in English?
Conversational / Social Language
Surface fluencyTopic specificFamiliarSimpleVocabulary related to specific setting or people
Conceptual or Complex Language
Cognitive Academic LanguageExpanded VocabularyLonger sentencesComprehensible and fluent Variety of complex topics
JIM CUMMINS’ ICEBERG METAPHOR
Conversational Language (1 to 3 years to acquire)
Academic Language (5 to 7, even up to 10 years to acquire)
Common Underlying
Proficiency
L1
L2
How does it Happen?
CONVERSATIONAL LANGUAGElanguage proficiency in everyday communication, acquired naturally without formal schooling; peer-appropriate conversation.
ACADEMIC LANGUAGElanguage proficiency in academic situation, emerges & becomes distinctive with formal schooling; classroom-appropriate language.
Knowledge of the Student
School records (the easy part) Language programs Prior schooling Attendance Behaviors Interventions Home language Comparison to other students or siblings Work samples
Is this only an issue in language based subjects
Knowledge of the Student
Meet with Parents (a little harder) Language parents speak at home Language student uses at home Do they listen to radio/TV in native language Can he read in native language Do they have concerns Developmental history
Milestones Following directions Social interactions Learning colors & numbers in native language
Caution
You may need an interpreterIf Possible:
Professional Has an educational vocabulary Does not know the family
Parents may say what they think you want to here. Be careful how you ask questions.
OBSERVE
What language does he use with his teachers and other adults?
What language does the student use during lunch and recess with peers.
Does he understand classroom routines and lessons?
Keep in mind that a student can figure out some routines, such as lining up for lunch, just by watching others.
Keep Observing
How does he perform in the regular classroom?
In the ELL setting?
In the community or at home?
Listen to his language, what kind of errors does he make?
Talk to the Student
REMEMBER TO DO THIS ONE!
School – how does he feel about it?
Are some teachers hard to understand?
How is this school different than others he attended?
What language does she dream in?
Contact information:
Decision Time: Do You Evaluate?
Is the learning/behavior problem because of:
Socio-cultural differences (level of acculturation)
Economic disadvantageLack of instruction/inconsistent schoolingInappropriate instructionEcological/environmental issues in the
classroom then the student should not be
considered for special education.
Signed Consent
Consent means the parent has been fully informed in the parent’s native language of all information related to what the district is seeking consent.
How are you going to do this?????
OCR v. Denver Public Schools
Sometimes LEP students were evaluated in English only because school staff persons decided that the student was “fluent enough in English”.
OCR v. Denver Public Schools
Diagnostic testing instruments that are published in English were often translated into other languages for students who speak another language
OCR v. Denver Public Schools
Staff persons disregarded advice of evaluators that unknown effects of linguistic differences affect the reliability and validity of the results and should be considered when interpreting test scores.
Testing
Watch for test questions that are "culturally loaded”
Make sure the student understands the tests' directions, don’t make assumptions
Analyze the data from multiple standardized tests that examine various skills
Types of Tests
School Psychologists, Speech Language Pathologists, and Academic Evaluators
Make use of your professional resources
NASP ASHA Test Manuals DOE LRP
The Role of an Interpreter
Take into account how an interpreter may affect the evaluation process
May inadvertently cue the student or give clues to answers.
Meet with the interpreter before you start any assessments to clarify procedures
Remember, not everything can be interpreted with the same meaning
Confidentiality and the Law
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Any school that receives federal or state education funds must comply with all privacy acts.
Confidentiality and the Law
It is the obligation of all school staff, volunteers, and substitute teachers to maintain confidentiality requirements of FERPA, IDEA, HIPAA, Section 504, and other laws.
John Copenhaver, DirectorCenter for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education
Maintaining Confidentially
It is best practice that each person signs a statement verifying they have received and understand information regarding FERPA requirements.
Sharing information about the student outside the professional education environment could violate the student’s civil rights and is against the law.
John Copenhaver, DirectorCenter for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education
The Meeting
Who will explain to the parent?
Go over the parent rights
Did they have access to the report ahead of time?
Again: Consent means the parent has been fully informed in the parent’s native language of all information related to what the district is seeking consent.
Eligibility
Use the state guidelines
Do you have good skill based information
Is the observation in the area of concern
Was the evaluation valid? Does it match all other information known about the child?